2022 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science
It’s not easy to decide which college to attend when there so many options available for students. College Factual was founded, in part, to help students make the decision as to what would be the best school for them. Our “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s” ranking is part of that endeavor.
In 2019-2020, 46,740 people earned their degree in political science, making the major the 14th most popular in the United States.
At the master’s degree level specifically, there were 1,601 political science graduates with average earnings and debt of $56,398 and $43,194 respectively.
This year’s “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s” ranking looked at 188 colleges that offer degrees in a bachelor’s in political science. The schools that top this list are recognized because they have great political science programs and cost less that schools of similar quality.
Some of the factors we look at when determining these rankings are overall quality of the political science program at the school and the cost of the school after aid is awarded among other things. See our ranking methodology to learn more.
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One Size Does Not Fit All
The poly sci school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s”.
We’ve created a tool called College Combat that lets you create your own customized comparisons based on the factors that matter the most to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.
Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s
The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s.
Top 25 Best Value Master’s Degree Colleges for Political Science
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend American Public University System. The school came in at #1 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s. American Military University is a private for-profit institution located in Charles Town, West Virginia. The school has a large population, and it awarded 31 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at American Military University are $7,050, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Read full report on Political Science at American Military University
You’ll join some of the best and brightest minds around if you attend Villanova University. The school came in at #2 for the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s. This fairly large school is located in Villanova, Pennsylvania, and it awarded 12 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
In addition to being on our master’s degree poly sci students list, Villanova has also earned the #20 rank in our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Villanova University are $20,719.
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Illinois State University. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. Illinois State University is a large public school situated in Normal, Illinois. It awarded 9 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Illinois State University are $11,069.
Read more about Political Science at Illinois State University
Out of the 188 schools in the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s that were part of this year’s ranking, Citadel Military College of South Carolina landed the #4 spot on the list. Charleston, South Carolina is the setting for this small institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 2 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Citadel Military College of South Carolina are $18,540, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full Citadel Military College of South Carolina Political Science Report
You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of South Dakota. It ranked #5 on our 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. USD is located in Vermillion, South Dakota and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 1 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at University of South Dakota are $12,637.
University of Nebraska at Omaha came in at #6 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. University of Nebraska at Omaha is a fairly large school located in Omaha, Nebraska that handed out 24 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UNOMAHA are $16,374.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Nebraska at Omaha
With a ranking of #7, Texas A&M University - College Station did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. Located in College Station, Texas, this large public school handed out 5 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas A&M College Station are $22,743, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of North Texas came in at #8 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. UNT is a large school located in Denton, Texas that handed out 2 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UNT are $15,618, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Read more about Political Science at University of North Texas
Liberty University landed the #9 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. Lynchburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The private not-for-profit school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 15 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Liberty University are $8,349, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Wyoming came in at #10 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. Located in Laramie, Wyoming, this fairly large public school handed out 4 diplomas to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wyoming are $16,615, but some majors have different tuition rates.
University of Memphis ranked #11 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. University of Memphis is a public institution located in Memphis, Tennessee. The school has a large population, and it awarded 9 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at UofM are $14,202.
Read full report on Political Science at University of Memphis
Northern Illinois University ranked #12 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. NIU is a public institution located in Dekalb, Illinois. The school has a fairly large population, and it awarded 2 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Northern Illinois University are $11,086, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Western Illinois University did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #13. Macomb, Illinois is the setting for this medium-sized institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 8 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at WIU are $11,996, but some majors have different tuition rates.
The University of Texas at Austin landed the #14 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. The University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UT Austin are $22,886, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Full The University of Texas at Austin Political Science Report
University of Illinois at Springfield did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #15. UIS is a small public school situated in Springfield, Illinois. It awarded 22 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Illinois at Springfield are $16,757, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Illinois at Springfield Political Science Report
Lehigh University landed the #16 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. Lehigh University is located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and, has a medium-sized student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 8 masters’s poly sci degrees to qualified students.
Lehigh not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #21 on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at Lehigh University are $27,130.
University of Wisconsin - Madison did quite well in the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking, coming in at #17. University of Wisconsin - Madison is a public institution located in Madison, Wisconsin. The school has a large population, and it awarded 1 masters’s degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Wisconsin - Madison are $25,523, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #18, Sam Houston State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. Sam Houston State University is a large public school situated in Huntsville, Texas. It awarded 4 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Although you might pay more or less depending on your area of study, average graduate tuition and fees at SHSU are $15,704.
Read full report on Political Science at Sam Houston State University
Virginia Tech came in at #19 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. Blacksburg, Virginia is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 14 students in 2019-2020.
Virginia Tech also claimed a top spot on our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” list. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Virginia Tech are $30,547, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Texas Tech University landed the #20 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. Lubbock, Texas is the setting for this large institution of higher learning. The public school handed out masters’s poly sci degrees to 1 students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Texas Tech University are $17,530, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #21, University of Nebraska - Lincoln did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. Located in Lincoln, Nebraska, this large public school handed out 4 degrees to qualified masters’s poly sci students in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at University of Nebraska - Lincoln are $19,513, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Full University of Nebraska - Lincoln Political Science Report
Purdue University - Main Campus came in at #22 in this year’s edition of the Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. Purdue is a large school located in West Lafayette, Indiana that handed out 5 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
As a testament to the quality of education it offers, Purdue is also in the top of our “Best Political Science Master’s Degree Schools” ranking. It’s in the top 20% of all schools in this category. Average graduate tuition and fees at Purdue University - Main Campus are $28,794, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
University of Houston landed the #23 spot on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s ranking. This large school is located in Houston, Texas, and it awarded 6 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at UH are $18,689, but some majors have different tuition rates.
With a ranking of #24, Florida State University did quite well on the 2022 Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. Florida State is a large school located in Tallahassee, Florida that handed out 24 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Florida State are $26,707, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.
Marquette University ranked #25 on this year’s Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s list. This fairly large school is located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and it awarded 2 masters’s poly sci degrees in 2019-2020.
Average graduate tuition and fees at Marquette are $21,690, but some majors have different tuition rates.
Rest of the Best 29 in Best Value Poly Sci Schools for a Master’s
Not only did these schools make the top 29 list, but they also landed in the top 15% of this year’s ranking:
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Southeast Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Rocky Mountains Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Middle Atlantic Region
Southwest
Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Southwest Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the New England Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Plains States Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Far Western US Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science in the Great Lakes Region
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Best Value Master's Degree Colleges for Political Science
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Notes and References
References
- The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
- Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
- Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.
Read more about our data sources and methodologies
Footnotes
- *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
- Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.
Credits
- Credit for the banner image above goes to UKWiki at English Wikipedia.
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